Supporting means for automatic yarn piecing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The main carriage of the apparatus is resiliently track-mounted closely adjacent the spinning machine, at approximately the spindle-rail elevation, for stable bi-directional movement along opposite sides and about at least one end of the machine. The carriage includes an open center section which facilitates its movement about the end of the machine, and which partially encloses and protects various extendable and retractable servicing mechanisms while permitting unimpeded movement and convenient maintenance of such mechanisms. Housing-like sections of the carriage fully enclose various drive and control components, which are so located as to provide a desired distribution of weight relative to the carriage supporting track. A mast section extends upwardly to an overhead rail which supplies electric power to the carriage and laterally stabilizes it.

United States Patent Harmon et al.

[ 51 Mar. 28, 1972 [72] Inventors: Albert D. Harmon; Gordon C. Anderson; George S. Van Deusen, all of Clemson,

[73] Assignee: Maremont Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 70,963

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,149,186 12/1957 France ..57/l R Primary ExaminerDonald E. Watkins Att0rney.|oseph H. Heard [57] ABSTRACT The main carriage of the apparatus is resiliently trackmounted closely adjacent the spinning machine, at approximately the spindle-rail elevation, for stable bi-directional movement along opposite sides and about at least one end of the machine. The carriage includes an open center section which facilitates its movement about the end of the machine, and which partially encloses and protects various extendable and retractable servicing mechanisms while permitting unimpeded movement and convenient maintenance of such mechanisms. Housing-like sections of the carriage fully enclose various drive and control components, which are so located as to provide a desired distribution of weight relative to the carriage supporting track. A mast section extends upwardly to an overhead rail which supplies electric power to the carriage and laterally stabilizes it.

16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures INVENTORS ALBERT D. NARA/ION GORDON C. A/VDUQSO/V GEO/Q65 5. VQ/VDfUSE/V Patented March 28, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ALBERT D. HARMON GORDON C. ANDERSON GEORGES. VAN DEUSEN %.WVM

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC YARN PIECING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the servicing of textile spinning frames and like machines by automatic yarn piecing apparatus, the art in question including and being exemplified by US. Pat. Nos. Re.26,230, 3,373,551, 3,403,866 and 3,486,319 and British Pat. Specification No. 1,186,946 (published Apr. 8, 1970).

Apparatus of the aforesaid type usually includes a mobile carriage mounted for movement along at least one side of a spinning machine, such movement being either on a continuous patrolling" basis or as required on a programmed or demand basis, to a delivery thereof requiring servicing by reason of an end-down or broken-yarn condition thereat. The carriage stops adjacent such delivery while servicing mechanisms which it carries eliminate the yarn discontinuity, in any one of several possible ways, and then resumes its movement.

At least some of the servicing mechanisms of the apparatus must be extended during use from the carriage to various components of the spinning-machine delivery undergoing servicing. The reliability and efficiency of the apparatus are dependent in part upon the precision and rapidity with which said servicing mechanisms assume their extended positions. The manner in which the carriage is mounted upon the spinning machine and in which the servicing mechanisms are mounted by the carriage are both significant in the latter regard. If the carriage is mounted so far from the machine that the servicing mechanisms must make relatively long strokes to assume their extended positions, acceptable efficiency and precision are more difficult to achieve. imprecision leading to failure of the piecing operation can also of course result from unstability of the carriage mounting, since only a small degree of carriage wobble" or the like can shift a servicing mechanism from its desired extended position. The same result will eventually ensue if the carriage mounts the servicing mechanisms in such a manner as to permit them to receive movement-impairing accumulations of lints or accidental impacts, both of these being prevalent hazards in textile-mill environments.

If the piecing apparatus is to service only one side or bay of a spinning machine, the desired stable and close mounting of the carriage relative to the machine can be most easily achieved. However, the overall efficiency of the apparatus and its cost on a per-spindle basis are greatly impaired by so restricting the number of machine deliveries capable of being serviced. Additionally, the apparatus may prohibit or impede the use of other accessories with the spinning machine, such as an automatic doffer, if the carriage is not movable past at least one of the outwardly projecting opposite ends of the machine Mounting the carriage for movement past one or both of the machine ends, to another delivery bay on the opposite side of the same machine or upon an adjacent machine, permits greater utilization of the apparatus and decreases its per-spindle cost, but increases the difficulty of obtaining the desired stability and closeness of the apparatus relative to each machine delivery serviceable by it. Another consideration frequently overlooked in previously proposed mountings of the aforesaid type is that the apparatus and its supporting structure should occupy a minimum amount of space and be adaptable in as easy and safe as possible a manner to any of the many different machine lay-outs which might be encountered in various textile mills.

Conflicting considerations also bear upon the mounting of the servicing mechanisms by the carriage. On the one hand, such mounting must permit unrestricted movement of the mechanisms to their extended positions and ready access to them for purposes of inspection, maintenance and the like. On the other hand, the servicing mechanisms must be shielded from accidental impacts, as from carts or cleaning equipment moving adjacent the machine being serviced, and must not be allowed to accumulate deposits of lint and similar air-borne foreign material. In addition to themselves remaining clean,

the servicing mechanisms and the piecing apparatus in its entirety should also be of a construction not impeding the operation of automatic machine and/or floor cleaning equipment such as is now customarily employed in many textile mills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides an automatic yarn piecing apparatus including a mobile carriage which is mounted in a highly stable manner for movement longitudinally of the spinning machine and about at least one end thereof, for servicing of both of its delivery bays or sections, the carriage being of a compact size and remaining at all times in close proximity to the machine being serviced. The servicing mechanisms carried by the carriage are movable along unrestricted and relatively short paths of travel to their extended positions and are mounted in such a manner as to be accessible for maintenance, inspection and easy automatic or manual cleaning, while being shielded against accidental impacts in those directions from which the impacts most likely would be forthcoming.

In a preferred form of the invention, a main supporting track member and an overhead rail member are secured to the spinning machine at approximately the spindle-rail and creel elevations thereof, respectively. Each of these members includes elongate sections extending longitudinally of the delivery bays on opposite sides of the machine, and curved sections extending about preferably only one end of the machine and interconnecting the elongate sections. The track member, which is disposed closely adjacent the machine throughout its length, bears the entire weight of the mobile carriage of the apparatus and supports the same for movement therealong, while the elevated rail imparts lateral stability to the apparatus and safely supplies electrical power to it through associated bus-bar conductors. Resilient connections between the carriage and the track insure its continued engagement at all times by both of a pair of spaced carriage-supporting wheels and at least one of a pair of carriage-driving wheels, while facilitating the carriages negotiation of the curved end section of the track. Also highly significant in the latter regard is the structure of the carriage itself, which includes an open center section which accommodatingly receives a portion of the curved track section intruding laterally therein as the carriage moves about an end of the machine. By virtue of such features, the radius of curvature of the curved track section may be kept minimal without sacrificing the desired stability and close proximity of the carriage to the spinning machine.

The servicing mechanisms of the piecing apparatus which are extendable to the spinning machine during each piecing operation are all mounted within the aforesaid open center section of the carriage, while various drive, control and electrical components of the apparatus are disposed within enclosed housing-like sections of the carriage provided on opposite sides of the open center section and above and below it. The arrangement permits unimpeded movement of the servicing mechanisms to their extended positions during each piecing operation, and also provides free front-to-rear access to them at all times for purposes of inspection, cleaning, maintenance and the like. Lint, dust, and similar material carried by the ambient air into the open center section of the carriage is not confined or trapped and therefore does not tend to accumulate upon the servicing mechanisms. Removal of any minor lint deposits which might form after a prolonged period of time upon the mechanisms can be readily effected without interruption of the operation of the apparatus or removal of any components thereof by directing a flow of cleaning air through the open center section of the carriage. While this could be quickly and easily done manually, in textile mills employing automatic equipment for pneumatically cleaning the spinning machines it would likely be done automatically by such equipment during and incidental to the routine cleaning of the spinning machine being serviced by the piecing apparatus.

While completely exposed as aforesaid in a front-to-rear direction transverse to the carriages length and movement, the servicing mechanisms are shielded in all other directions by the adjacent housing-like carriage sections. This protects them from damaging impacts which they otherwise might well receive, as from components of automatic cleaning equipment used in the mill or from bobbin-carts moved along the aisles adjacent the spinning machine. The housing-like sections of the carriage, in addition to shielding and providing a stable mounting for the servicing mechanisms within the open center section of the carriage, completely enclose those components of the piecing apparatus which are not required during a piecing operation to move into engagement with parts of the spinning machine. In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, such components include an electrical control system, a control cam mechanism, a main drive motor and associated gear box, an air compressor, and a suction-producing blower or fan assembly. The aforesaid components are so distributed among the enclosed housing sections of the carriage as to all be readily accessible through access doors forming part of such sections, and so as to provide the apparatus with a desired low and centrally-located center of gravity. This contributes not only to the stability of the apparatus during normal operation, but also to personnel safety in the event of a malfunction.

Also significant from the viewpoint of personnel safety is the elevated location of the rail provided adjacent the creel of the spinning machine and having bus-bars or similar conductors associated therewith. By supplying all power to the apparatus through this overhead rail, the potential hazards presented by low-level conductors, dangling or trailing cables and the like are avoided. The overhead location of the rail also causes only minimal loads to be imposed thereon as it performs its carriage-stabilizing function. The distance between the overhead rail and the lower track which supports the entire weight of the carriage is such that the lateral force exerted upon the rail does not exceed approximately twenty pounds. Without fear of structural failure, therefore, the overhead rail may be of a highly economical and easily installable construction.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a spinning machine having an automatic yarn piecing apparatus constructed and mounted thereon in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with its carriage partially broken away to reveal interior components, and with a fragmentary portion of the spinning machine also being shown in side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating the mounting of the carriage of the piecing apparatus upon the spinning machine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in vertical section and partially in elevation, of the mast section of the carriage of the apparatus and of the overhead rail engaged by it;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in vertical section and partially in side elevation, of the lower section of the carriage of the apparatus and the adjacent portion of the spinning machine; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the carriage of the apparatus and its supporting wheels, with the track member engaged by such wheels also being shown in phantom-lines.

The spinning machine 10 fragmentarily shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 is of a conventional type having a plurality of deliveries arranged in two bays or sections extending longitudinally of opposite sides of the machine between its foot and head end cabinets 12, 14. At each delivery yarn (roving) normally passes downwardly from the machines elevated creel 16 through drafting rolls 18, guide 20, and balloon control ring 22, and then through a traveler carried upon a spinning ring 24 mounted by a vertically-movable ring rail 26 concentrically with the bobbin 28 onto which the yarn is wound. Bobbin 28 is removably seated upon a spindle 30 mounted upon a spindle rail 32 and rotated during operation of machine 10 by tapes 34. As is well known to those skilled in the art, duplicate spindle rails 32, ring rails 26, etc. are provided on opposite sides of machine 10.

In accordance with the present invention, machine 10 is provided with track and rail members 36, 38 respectively, each of which includes a pair of elongate straight sections that extend longitudinally of opposite sides of the machine and are interconnected by a curved section extending about the machines head end cabinet 14. Rail 38 is mounted slightly above and laterally outwardly from creel 16 of machine 10, and has electrical conductors 40 of the bus-bar type extending for substantially the full length thereof. Rail 38 is of sufficiently light-weight construction that it can be readily supported in the aforesaid position by struts 42 extending to the creel supports and end cabinets of machine 10. Track 36 is mounted at the considerably lower spindle-rail elevation of machine 10, and its straight sections preferably are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured directly to the frame of machine 10 such as to respective ones of the machines spindle-rails 32, so as to extend in closely adjacent and parallel relationship thereto along opposite sides of the machine. The curved section of track 36 is fixed to or otherwise carried by the access door 14 of the machine's head end cabinet 14 and extends only a short distance outwardly therefrom since having a minimal radius of curvature approximately equal to one-half of the cabinets width. When access door 14 is closed, the opposite ends of the curved track section abut and are in alignment with the respective adjacent ends of the two straight sections of track 36, as shown. Door 14 of course remains closed during operation of machine 10. It may be readily opened at other times, the curved section of track 36 moving therewith, when access to the interior of cabinet 14 is required. At the opposite end of machine 10, both track 36 and overhead rail 38 preferably terminate at or just short of cabinet 12, as shown in FIG. 3. While curved interconnecting sections of the track and rail could and at times may be provided at foot end 12 as well as at head end 14 of machine 10, the aforesaid preferred arrangement better conserves valuable aisle space, and permits any desired type of accessory equipment, such as components of an automatic doffing apparatus, to be associated with the foot end of machine 10.

The automatic yarn piecing apparatus shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an upright carriage 44 supported by longitudinally spaced wheels 62, 62' (FIGS. 5 and 6) upon track 36 for bi-directional movement therealong, under the impetus of track-engaging drive wheels 100, and the stabilizing influence of a wheel 58 (FIG. 4) engaging rail 38, to a position closely forwardly of any delivery of machine 10 requiring servicing by reason of a broken-yarn or end-down" condition thereat. Carriage 44 includes an open center section 46, enclosed housing-like sections 48, 50, 52 and 54, and a mast section 56. Center section 46 is completely exposed in a lateral forward-rearward direction, and extends vertically between the elevation of track 36 and that of drafting rolls 18 of machine 10. Housing-like sections 48, 50 extend upwardly in substantially parallel relationship to each other on opposite sides of center section 46, while sections 52, 54 respectively interconnect the upper and lower ends of sections 48, 50 and define the vertical limits of open center section 46. Bottom section 54 desirably may be recessed at its lower rear portion (FIGS. 1 and 5) so as to permit the installation upon machine 10 of ancillary equipment such as automatic doffer components or the like, and terminates well above the underlying floor. Mast section 56 extends upwardly from the carriage sec tion 52 and at its upper end mounts electrical contact elements 60 and wheel 58 (FIG. 4), the latter being supported by an arm 61 for free rotation about a vertical axis. Wheel 58 engages and rolls along the inner face of overhead rail 38, while elements 60 (FIG. 4) slidably engage the bus-bar conductors extending along the outer or forward face of rail 38.

As is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, flanged support wheels 62, 62' are connected to the rear walls of upright carriage sections 48, 50, respectively, in closely adjacent relationship to the drive wheels 100, 100' projecting from openings 104, 104' provided through such walls, for independent rotational and translatory movement in a plurality of directions relative to each other and to the carriage. The means interconnecting carriage section and wheel 62 includes a hinge-like bracket 64 having a base segment 66, which is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear wall of such carriage section, and a downwardly depending segment 68 connected thereto by a pin 69 for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis. One of two bores extending longitudinally of bracket segment 68 from its free outer end receives the grooved upper end portion of a rod 70 which is secured by a set screw 72 within the bore in such a way as to be freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The exposed lower end portion of rod 70 mounts a bearing and shaft assembly 74 supporting wheel 62 for free rotation, about its generally horizontally-extending central axis, along the enlarged upper edge of track 36. The single peripheral flange of wheel 62 resists its outward lateral displacement from track 36, but permits the wheel to be slightly tilted from the vertical, in one direction, and still remain in firm engagement with the track. The second bore extending through bracket segment 68 receives the upper end portion of an L-shaped rod 76, which is secured within the bore by a set screw 78 and which projects at its exposed opposite end laterally toward and into carriage section 50 through a small hole provided in the rear wall thereof. The opposite ends of a coil compression spring 80 encircling that portion of rod 76 within carriage 50 respectively engage the rear wall of the carriage and a washer-like stop element 82 secured to rod 76.

At the opposite side of the carriages open center section 46, an identical interconnection is provided between wheel 62' and carriage section 48, and in FIG. 6 the same reference numerals with the addition of a prime designation identify corresponding components thereof.

When wheels 62, 62 rest upon either of the straight sections of track 36, carriage 44 is securely supported thereby quite closely adjacent but entirely to one side of the track, as shown in FIG. 5. Coil springs 80, 80' bias the carriage and wheels 62, 62 toward each other, such that the latter lie approximately parallel to the rear carriage wall in the vertical plane of track 36, while the adjacent drive wheels 100, 100' firmly engage the outer face of the enlarged upper edge of the track. Such engagement, in addition to minimizing slippage between wheels 100, 100' and track 36, contributes somewhat to the lateral carriage stability primarily realized by the engagement between overhead rail 38 and the wheel 58 atop mast section 56 of carriage 44. Excellent stability is realized even though wheel 58 imposes a maximum force of only approximately twenty pounds upon rail 38, the relatively small magnitude of the force being due to the entire weight of carriage 44 being borne by track 36 and to the lever-arm effect of the considerable distance between the rail and the track.

As carriage 44 negotiates the curved section of track 36 at head end cabinet 14 of machine 10, wheels 62, 62' move independently relative to each other and the carriage in automatic appropriate response to the changing track curvature. Each wheel pivots as required about the longitudinal axis of its associated rod 70 or 70'. Additionally, pivotal movement between the two segments of brackets 64, 64' increases the spacing between the respective wheels 62, 62 and the rear wall of carriage 44. The latter effect is limited, however, by the resulting compression of the associated springs 80, 80 such that at least one of the carriage drive wheels 100, 100 remains in firm driving engagement with track 36 at all times. As thus limited, the aforesaid movement between wheels 62, 62' and carriage 44 is insufficient to by itself prevent interfering contact between carriage 44 and track 36 at the curved track section. Open center section 46 of carriage 44 prevents such interference by receiving therein a portion of the curved track spanned by wheels 62, 62' and intruding laterally into section 46, as is indicated by the phantom-line showing of the carriage in FIG. 3. The intruding portion of track 36 projects between side sections 48, 50 of carriage 44 in closely overlying relationship to its lower housing-like section 54, but does not engage any part of the carriage or any components carried by it. Successful negotiation of the curved track section by carriage 44 thus reliably ensues notwithstanding the track section's relatively small radius of curvature, the close proximity of the carriage to the track, and the relatively great distance between wheels 62, 62.

A plurality of servicing mechanisms 84, 86, 88 are mounted within open center section 46 of carriage 44 for movement therefrom, during each piecing operation performed at a delivery of machine 10, to appropriate components of the spinning machine. Mechanisms 84, 86, 88 are illustratively of a type which cooperatively effect repair of a yarn break by unwinding and traveler-threading yarn previously wound upon the bobbin 28 at the delivery undergoing servicing, while controlling the rotation of the spindle 30 supporting the bobbin, and thereafter rejoining such yarn with that issuing from drafting rolls 18 at the delivery. The piecing operation could, however, be performed in various other ways, as by the addition of a length of auxiliary yarn to that previously wound upon the bobbin or by downwardly extending to the bobbin yarn issuing from drafting rolls 18. The mechanisms 84, 86, 88 would in that case be of a different type from those shown, but would in any event still be movable as aforesaid to components of machine 10 during each piecing operation. The realization of such movement of the servicing mechanisms with speed and accuracy is facilitated by the stability of carriage 44 and its close proximity to the machine components in question, and indirectly is also facilitated by the carriage section 46 being completely open in a forward-rearward direction. The lint and other air-borne foreign material inevitably present to a degree in any textile mill would in time impede the movement and/or other operation of mechanisms 84, 86, 88 if allowed to accumulate in significant quantity thereon. Such accumulations do not readily form since carriage section 46 does not in any way trap the lint and other similar material entering therein, but rather permits free and continued movement of the material completely through and from itself. Such passage of the material through and from carriage section 46 will of course be assisted by any air currents produced in the vicinity of machine 10, as by pneumatic cleaning equipment (not shown) which might be associated therewith. When such equipment is provided the same would, incidental to its routine cleaning of machine 10 and irrespective of its particular design and location, inevitably cause air flow through carriage section 46. In mills wherein pneumatic cleaning equipment is not provided, a blast of air could easily be directed through section 46, at periodic intervals and if required, by a person standing in the aisle adjacent machine 10 and employing a conventional airhose. In any event, the maintenance of mechanisms 84, 86, 88 in a clean condition is accomplished during and without interruption of the normal operation of the piecing apparatus, and free access to the mechanisms for purposes of other maintenance and/or inspection is possible at all times.

Although exposed as aforesaid in a forward-rearward direction, servicing mechanisms 84, 86, 88 are in all other directions shielded from accidental impacts which they might otherwise receive by the adjacent housing-like sections 48, 50, 52 and 54 of carriage 44. Engagements which might occur between the carriage and carts within an aisle adjacent machine 10, components of pneumatic cleaning equipment associated with the machine, etc. are therefore unlikely to result in damage to the servicing mechanisms or impairment of the precision of their operation. Some such engagements must be expected even though the close proximity maintained between carriage 44 and machine 10 at all times, including during carriage movement about the machines head end, minimizes the frequency of their occurrence.

in addition to their aforesaid function, housing-like sections 48, 50, 52, 54 of carriage 44 fully enclose and protect various drive, control and other components of the apparatus which are mounted therewithin in a manner facilitating convenient access to all of them and enhancing the carriages overall stability. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 5, the more massive and weighty components of the apparatus are all mounted within lower housing section 54, at an elevation appreciably below that of track 36, so as to provide carriage 44 with a low center of gravity and permit convenient access to all of them upon removal of the detachable front panel or wall 54' of such section. The aforesaid components include an electric motor 90, gear box 92, air compressor 94 and suction-producing fan assembly 96. Motor 90 receives electrical current from overhead bus-bar conductors 40 through mast-supported contact elements 60 (FIG. 4) and suitable connecting leads (not shown), and supplies input power to gear box 92 through interconnecting drive belt 98. Through suitable engageable and disengageable connections therewith, gear box 92 in turn drives all of the various other components of the piecing apparatus, including the wheels 100, 100 engageable with track 36 for the purpose of moving carriage 44 therealong. Vertical shafts 102, 102' respectively mount wheels 100, 100 within side sections 50, 48 of carriage 44 so that segments of the wheels high-friction rims protrude rearwardly through openings 104, 104 in the rear wall of carriage 44 for engagement with track 36. The lower end portions of both shafts 102, 102' project downwardly into lower carriage section 54 and are both drivably connected by a single belt 106 to two output shafts 108, 108 of gear box 92. Shafts 108, 108 positively rotate in opposite directions from one another upon energization of respective ones of the clutches 110, 110' associated therewith, and each shaft is free-wheeling when its particular clutch is deenergized. Carriage 44 remains stationary as long as both clutches 110, 110' are deenergized. Energization of one of the clutches causes carriage 44 to move in one direction along track 36. Deenergization of that clutch and energization of the other one causes reversal of the carriages movement. Since both wheels 100, 100 are positively driven when either clutch 110, 110 is energized, the desired movement of carriage 44 reliably ensues even during its negotiation of the curved section of track 36 at the head end of machine 10.

By the use of suitable electrical controls (not shown), clutches 110, 110' may be selectively energized and deenergized to produce any desired movement sequence of carriage 44. Thus, when the apparatus is not performing a piecing operation at a machine delivery requiring servicing, carriage 44 might be maintained stationary at any desired location along track 36 or, alternatively, kept moving on a patrolling" basis. If the latter technique were employed, then suitable limit switches or the like would be provided to reverse the clutch energization and therefore the direction of movement of carriage 44 each time the latter reached foot end cabinet 12 of machine 10. It is of course understood that if curved sections of track 36 and rail 38 were provided at the foot end of machine 10, as well as at its head end, bi-directional movement of carriage 44 would not be absolutely necessary but might still be desirable.

The majority of the electrical components of the apparatus may be and preferably are all conveniently and centrally mounted within side section 48 of carriage 44, which is provided with a removable panel or wall 48 affording access to such components when required. The opposite side section 50 of the carriage encloses the control cam-shaft of the apparatus, which among other functions programs the movement sequence of at least some of the servicing mechanisms mounted within the open center section 46 of the carriage, and also houses some of the movement-imparting linkages connected to such mechanisms. Additional linkages of the latter type are also enclosed within upper housing section 52 and in the uppermost portions of sections 48 and 54. Sections 50 and 52, in keeping with those previously described, are provided with removable panels or doors 50, 52', respectively, providing ready access to their interiors when required. No components are mounted within the main body of mast section 56, which is of light-weight hollow construction, but its interior is used as a reservoir for compressed air supplied via suitable conduits (not shown) to it from compressor 94 and from it to one of the servicing mechanisms within the carriages open center section 46.

The weight distribution of the aforesaid components within the various sections of carriage 44 is such that wheels 62, 62', in addition to being spaced relatively distant from one another, bear approximately equal loads. This discourages vertical tilting of the carriage in a longitudinal direction if for some reason its movement should commence or stop too abruptly. The low center of gravity of the carriage also tends to discourage such tilting, and rapidly returns the carriage to its safe upright position if the same occurs. Also noteworthy from the personnel-safety viewpoint are the absence of cables and/or other low-level conductors extending to carriage 44, and the suspension of the carriage an appreciable distance above the floor upon which machine 10 is supported.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As previously noted, for example, curved sections of track 36 and rail 38 might be provided about both ends of machine 10 when the benefits realized from having the same extend about one end only of the machine are not desired or are outweight by other considerations. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically shown and described, this was for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being in accordance with the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus for servicing said machine, the improvement comprising:

track means carried by said machine at approximately the spindle-rail elevation thereof, said track means including substantially straight sections extending longitudinally of opposite sides of said machine and a curved section extending about an end of said machine and interconnecting said straight sections;

and an upright carriage of said apparatus mounted intermediate its height by said track means for movement therealong closely adjacent said machine, said carriage having an opening therein for receiving a portion of said curved track section intruding laterally into said opening during movement of said carriage thereabout.

2. The combination of claim 1, including a plurality of flanged carriage-supporting wheels adapted to engage and roll along said track means in longitudinally spaced relationship to each other, and bracket means connecting said wheels to said carriage on opposite sides of said opening for lateral movement of said carriage relative to said wheels and said track.

3. The combination of claim 2, including biasing means associated with said connecting means for biasing said carriage laterally toward said wheels and said track.

4. The combination of claim 2, including a plurality of drive wheels upon said carriage adapted to engage said track means for moving said carriage therealong, said drive wheels being mounted closely adjacent respective ones of said flanged wheels for lateral movement with said carriage relative to said track means, and further including means associated with said connecting means for so biasing said flanged wheels and said carriage toward each other as to maintain at least one of said drive wheels in engagement with said curved track section during movement of said carriage thereabout.

5. The combination of claim 4, including, within said carriage, a drive motor, a gear box connected to said motor and having a pair of output shafts alternately rotatable thereby in opposite directions, and belt means connecting said drive shafts to said drive wheels.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said carriage has an open center section extending completely therethrough in a lateral direction and encompassing said track-receiving opening, and further including an extensible servicing mechanism mounted within said open carriage section for movement therefrom toward the spinning machine during a piecing operation.

7. The combination of claim 1, including an overhead rail carried by said machine slightly above the creel elevation thereof, and means interconnecting said carriage and said rail for laterally stabilizing said carriage.

8. The combination of claim 7, including power supply means carried by said overhead rail for supplying motive power to said carriage.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said power supply means includes electrical conductor means carried by said overhead rail for supplying electrical current to said carriage.

10. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus adapted to service said machine and including a mobile carriage, the improvement comprising:

a carriage-supportive track member carried by said machine at approximately the spindle-rail elevation thereof;

a carriage-stabilizing rail member carried by said machine at approximately the creel elevation thereof;

said members each including substantially straight sections extending longitudinally of opposite sides of said machine and a curved section extending about one end of said machine and interconnecting said straight sections;

and means connecting said mobile carriage to said members for movement about said end of said machine and longitudinally of the opposite sides thereof;

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said members terminate adjacent the other end of said machine.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein said carriage has an open center section extending completely therethrough in a lateral direction, a plurality of enclosed housing-like sections disposed on opposite sides of and above and below said open center section and defining extremities of said open center section, and a mast section extending upwardly from said housing-like sections to said rail member, each of said housing-like carriage sections having a releasable panel providing access to apparatus components mounted therewithin.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said mast section has a hollow interior defining a compressed air reservoir for use by said apparatus in the servicing of said machine.

14. The combination of claim 10, including a plurality of servicing mechanisms mounted within said open center section of said carriage for rearward movement therefrom toward said machine during a piecing operation, said mechanisms being freely accessible through said open center section for purposes of maintenance, cleaning, inspection and the like.

15. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus for servicing said machine, the improvement comprising:

an upright carriage mounted closely adjacent said machine for movement longitudinally thereof, said carriage having a pair of enclosed housing-like sections disposed on opposite sides of an open center section extending completely through said carriage in a direction transverse to the direction of said carriage movement;

and at least one servicing mechanism mounted within said open center section for extensible movement therefrom during a piecing operation toward said machine, said mechanism at other times being retracted within said open center section shielded by said side sections of said carriage and being at all times accessible through said open center section for purposes of maintenance and the like.

16. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine having a spindle rail extending longitudinally thereof, and an automatic'yam piecing apparatus for servicing said machine, the improvement com rising:

a track secured to said spin e rat and extending longitudinally thereof;

a piecing apparatus carriage adapted to be supported by said track for movement therealong closely adjacent said spindle rail;

and means for supporting said carriage upon said track, including track-engaging wheels, hinge-like bracket members respectively interconnecting said wheels and said carriage for relative lateral movement therebetween, and biasing means for resiliently urging said wheels and carriage into desired positions of close proximity relative to one another. 

1. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus for servicing said machine, the improvement comprising: track means carried by said machine at approximately the spindle-rail elevation thereof, said track means including substantially straight sections extending longitudinally of opposite sides of said machine and a curved section extending about an end of said machine and interconnecting said straight sections; and an upright carriage of said apparatus mounted intermediate its height by said track means for movement therealong closely adjacent said machine, said carriage having an opening therein for receiving a portion of said curved track section intruding laterally into said opening during movement of said carriage thereabout.
 2. The combination of claim 1, including a plurality of flanged carriage-supporting wheels adapted to engage and roll along said track means in longitudinally spaced relationship to each other, and bracket means connecting said wheels to said carriage on opposite sides of said opening for lateral movement of said carriage relative to said wheels and said track.
 3. The combination of claim 2, including biasing means associated with said connecting means for biasing said carriage laterally toward said wheels and said track.
 4. The combination of claim 2, including a plurality of drive wheels upon said carriage adapted to engage said track means for moving said carriage therealong, said drive wheels being mounted closely adjacent respective ones of said flanged wheels for lateral movement with said carriage relative to said track means, and further including means associated with said connecting means for so biasing said flanged wheels and said carriage toward each other as to maintain at least one of said drive wheels in engagement with said curved track section during movement of said carriage thereabout.
 5. The combination of claim 4, including, within said carriage, a drive motor, a gear box connected to said motor and having a pair of output shafts alternately rotatable thereby in opposite directions, and belt means connecting said drive shafts to said drive wheels.
 6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said carriage has an open center section extending completely therethrough in a Lateral direction and encompassing said track-receiving opening, and further including an extensible servicing mechanism mounted within said open carriage section for movement therefrom toward the spinning machine during a piecing operation.
 7. The combination of claim 1, including an overhead rail carried by said machine slightly above the creel elevation thereof, and means interconnecting said carriage and said rail for laterally stabilizing said carriage.
 8. The combination of claim 7, including power supply means carried by said overhead rail for supplying motive power to said carriage.
 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said power supply means includes electrical conductor means carried by said overhead rail for supplying electrical current to said carriage.
 10. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus adapted to service said machine and including a mobile carriage, the improvement comprising: a carriage-supportive track member carried by said machine at approximately the spindle-rail elevation thereof; a carriage-stabilizing rail member carried by said machine at approximately the creel elevation thereof; said members each including substantially straight sections extending longitudinally of opposite sides of said machine and a curved section extending about one end of said machine and interconnecting said straight sections; and means connecting said mobile carriage to said members for movement about said end of said machine and longitudinally of the opposite sides thereof;
 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said members terminate adjacent the other end of said machine.
 12. The combination of claim 10, wherein said carriage has an open center section extending completely therethrough in a lateral direction, a plurality of enclosed housing-like sections disposed on opposite sides of and above and below said open center section and defining extremities of said open center section, and a mast section extending upwardly from said housing-like sections to said rail member, each of said housing-like carriage sections having a releasable panel providing access to apparatus components mounted therewithin.
 13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said mast section has a hollow interior defining a compressed air reservoir for use by said apparatus in the servicing of said machine.
 14. The combination of claim 10, including a plurality of servicing mechanisms mounted within said open center section of said carriage for rearward movement therefrom toward said machine during a piecing operation, said mechanisms being freely accessible through said open center section for purposes of maintenance, cleaning, inspection and the like.
 15. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus for servicing said machine, the improvement comprising: an upright carriage mounted closely adjacent said machine for movement longitudinally thereof, said carriage having a pair of enclosed housing-like sections disposed on opposite sides of an open center section extending completely through said carriage in a direction transverse to the direction of said carriage movement; and at least one servicing mechanism mounted within said open center section for extensible movement therefrom during a piecing operation toward said machine, said mechanism at other times being retracted within said open center section shielded by said side sections of said carriage and being at all times accessible through said open center section for purposes of maintenance and the like.
 16. In the combination of a textile spinning frame or like machine having a spindle rail extending longitudinally thereof, and an automatic yarn piecing apparatus for servicing said machine, the improvement comprising: a track secured to said spindle rail and extending longitudinally thereof; a piecing apparatus carriage adapted to be supported by said track for movement therealong closely adjacent said spindle rail; and means for supporting said carriage upon said track, including track-engaging wheels, hinge-like bracket members respectively interconnecting said wheels and said carriage for relative lateral movement therebetween, and biasing means for resiliently urging said wheels and carriage into desired positions of close proximity relative to one another. 